Hydraulic concentrator or classifier



APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. i915.

Patented Aug. 8,1916.

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F. F. WAGNER. I HYDRAULIC CONCENTRATOR OR CLASSIFIER.

APPLICATION. FILED JUNE 29. I915. I 1,1 93,953. Patented Aug. 8,1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK F. WAGNER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

HYDRAULIC CONCENTRATOR OR CLASSIFIER.

Application filed June 29, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK F. WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and-State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Concentrators or Classifiers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a 'part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hydraulic concentrators, my object being to provide a concentrator in which the metallic values may be separated from the gangue by the action alone of an upwardly directed current of water or oil.

My further object is to separate the me tallic values into different grades, varying in specific gravity. This is accomplished by the employment of a number of tanks preferably cone shaped, having their smaller extremities lowermost. Each of these tanks is provided with a trough at the top to receive an overflow, which carries gangue, middlings or mineral values, as may be required and according to the adjustment of the apparatus.

Speaking more specifically, the apparatus consists of a bottom tank preferably cylin drical in shape, and a series of cone shaped tanks forming a superstructure, the lowermost cone shaped tank being in communication with the cylindrical tank at the top, the next higher cone shaped tank having its lower extremity in communication with the top of the lowermost cone shaped tank, and so on depending on the number of cone shaped tanks employed, the lower extremity of any cone shaped tank being in commu nication with the upper extremity by the cone shaped tank next below. The diameters of the pipe connections between the lowermost cone shaped tank and the cylindrical tankgand between the various cone shaped tanks, diminish in an upward direction, that is to say the pipe connecting the lowermost cone shaped tank with the cylindrical tank is largest, the pipe connecting the top of the lowermost cone shaped tank with the lower extremity of the.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Serial No. 36,918.

cone shaped tank next above, being smaller, and so on according to the elevation of this pipe connection, the uppermost pipe connection between two cone shaped tanks being smallest. The reason of this variation in size of the various pipe connections, is that the water which is introduced from below, namely at the lower extremity of the cylindrical tank and is carried upwardly through all of the tanks under pressure, diminishes in volume, so that while the entire volume of water enters the lowermost cone shaped tank a portion of this water is drawn off with the material taken from this tank, whereby a less quantity of water enters the cone shaped tank next above and so on. By diminishing these pipe connections on the principle heretofore outlined, the construction is made to harmonize or correspond with the existing conditions, and better results are obtained than would be the case if these pipe connections were all of the same size.

In the construct-ion disclosed in the drawing, four tanks are illustrated, the lowermost being a cylindrical tank and the others cone shaped tanks. With this apparatus the silica or pure gangue is caused to overflow at the top of the uppermost tank into a trough, and is drawn off by means of a faucet or other suitable valve controlled device. The cone shaped tank next below the uppermost tank is similarly equipped with an overflow trough from which is drawn off a heavier grade than the silica, which may be termed middlings and which will contain some metallic values but of relatively low specific gravity. The tank next below or the third tank from the top is likewise equipped with an overflow trough into which will be carried a grade of practically pure mineral but of greater specific gravity than that included in the middlings. Finally the metallic values of greatest specific gravity will be caught in the lowermost or cylindrical tank, and may be drawn off into a trough or other receptacle arranged at the bottom of this tank. From this it will be understood that as many different grades of materiaLseparated according to their varying specific gravities, may be made as desired and according to the particular material under treatment, depending upon the circumstances of any particular case.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illus trated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing,Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating the series of cone shaped tanks of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the cylindrical tank, whose normal position is below and connected with the lowermost cone shaped tank. Two views are made of the apparatus since there is not room on the sheet to show the four tanks in their proper operative relation. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section taken through one of the cone shaped tanks shown on a somewhat larger scale than in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44, Fig. 2 looking downwardly. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of cone shaped construction.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a tank whose body portion is cylindrical in form and whose lower part (3 is cone shaped and tapers downwardly to a reduced outlet 7 which is equipped with a valve 8 for regulating the escape of material from the tank 5. Beneath the outlet is located a trough or a receptacle 9 into which the material may be discharged from the tank 5. Mounted above the tank 5 are three cone shaped tanks respectively designated 10, 12 and 13, 10 being the lowermost tank, 12 the tank next above and 13 the highest tank. As illustrated in the drawing these various tanks are suitably secured to upright posts 14 which are suitably spaced and whose lower extremities are made fast as shown at 15 to a base 16. The tank 5 is equipped with sleeves 17 on opposite sides, through which the posts 14 are passed, the tank being held in the desired position of vertical adjustment by means of set bolts 18. Each of the tanks 10, 12 and 13 is provided at its top with metal straps 19 which terminate at their outer extremities in sleeves 20 through which the posts 14 pass, the tanks being secured in the desired position of vertical adjustment by set bolts 21.

It must be understood that the invention is not in any way limited to this particular construction and arrangement for supporting the various tanks, since it is evident that any suitable means may be employed for maintaining these tanks in cooperative relation for hydraulic concentration.

The cone shaped tank 10 has a pipe 22 leading from its lower extremity downwardly and communicating with the upper extremity of the tank 5. A relatively short pipe 23 leads from the lower extremity of the tank 12 to the upper extremity of the tank 10, the lower part 24 of this pipe is reduced somewhat in diameter as comparec with that of the pipe connection 22 between the tanks 10 and 5. There is a similar pipe connection 25 between the lower extremity of the tank 13 and the upper extremity of the tank 12, whereby these two tanks are placed in communication. The lower part 26 of the pipe connection 25, is reduced somewhat in diameter as compared with that of the part 24 of the pipe 23. The upper extremity of each of these cone shaped tanks is provided with a circumferentially arranged trough 27 which is in communication with the body of the tank by means of openings 28 for overflow purposes. Leading downwardly and forming a part of this trough, is an exterior hood or housing 29, spaced from the Wall part of the tank to form a passage 30, whereby the material which overflows from the tank into the trough 27, may be carried downwardly and removed from the tank through a faucet 31 or other suitable valve controlled outlet connected with the lower extremity of the passage 30. For convenience the faucet or valve controlled outlet of the tank 13 will be designated 31, the corresponding device of the tank 12, 32, and the corresponding device of the tank 10, 33. Below the discharge extremities of these faucets are arranged troughs or chutes 34, 35 and 36 respectively, the uppermost trough being designated 34, and the next lower 35, and the lowermost 36. These troughs are respectively connected with the corresponding faucets by means of loops 37 whose closed extremities pass over the parts of the faucets between the valves and the tanks, while the lower extremities of the arms 38 of these loops are turned at right angles and engage perforations formed in the sides of the troughs, thus supporting the upper extremities of the troughs in cotiperative relation with the faucets. It is evident that any other suitable construction may be employed for supporting these troughs.

Connected with the lower extremity of the tank 5, just above the cone shaped bottom part 6, is an elbow-shaped pipe 39 whose upper extremity is in communication with the tank and whose lower portion is equipped with a valve 40 for regulating the supply of water to the apparatus, the lower extremity of the pipe 39 below the valve 40 being in communication with a source of water under pressure (not shown).

The upper extremity of the uppermost cone shaped tank 13, is provided with an inlet opening Which as illustrated in the drawing is surrounded by an outwardly flared collar 41. Into this opening at the top of the tank 13. the material to be treated is discharged, while the water for treating the material enters the bottom of the apparatus through the pipe 39 as heretofore described.

During operation the material to be treat- :d is fed into the upper extremity of the tank 13, the tank apparatus having first been filled with water, and the water being under such pressure as to cause it to overflow at the top or into the trough 27 of the uppermost tank, thus providing for an overflow from all of the cone shaped tanks. By virtue of this arrangement there is a current of water flowing upwardly from the bottom of the. tank 5 where the pipe 39 enters, through the tank 5 and all of the tanks 10, 12 and 13 of the superstructure. It is this current of water which effects the separation of the ma terial into the various grades desired according to their specific gravities. Attention is called to the fact that the pipe connections 22, 23 and 25 are formed of glass, so that the operation of the apparatus may be observed. As soon as the material is fed into the top of the tank 13 and begins to pass into the tank 5, the valve 40 is so regulated as to prevent the passage into this tank, of any material except that of the greatest specific gravity, being the highest grade of metallic values where metalliferous ores or material are under treatment. By adjusting the valve 40, materials which it is not desired to allow to pass to the tank 5, may be carried upwardly into the tank 10, by opening the valve 4-0 sufliciently for the purpose. In other words, by Watching the passage of material through the glass pipe 22, the operator will understand whether any undesirable material is passing therethrough to the tank 5. In the event that such is the case, it will be material of less specific gravity than the grade which is to pass to the tank 5, hence by further opening the valve 10, a sufiicient volume of water will be caused to pass upwardly into the tank 10, to prevent the downward movement of this undesirable grade of material. As soon as the valve 40 is so regulated as to cause only the proper grade of material to pass into the tank 5, the operator will then observe by watching the glass pipe 23 whether any material is passing from the tank 12 into the tank 10 of a lower grade or of less specific gravity than desired, and if so he will regulate the valve of the faucet 33 accordingly. For instance if the material under treatment contains lead, iron and silica, the lead which is heaviest should pass into the tank 5, and consequently the valve 10 will be opened to prevent any other material from passing to the last named tank. This means that the valve 40 will be open to cause a sufficient volume of water to pass upwardly through the pipe 22, to prevent the iron from leaving the tank 10, and to cause it to overflow from said tank. Again by watching the glass pipe 23 between the tanks 10 and 12, if the operator notices anv silica or any other material of less specific gravity than the iron and lead, passing into the tank 10, he will partly close the valve of the faucet 33, and continue the closing operation until a suflicient volume of water is passing through the pipe 23 to prevent all material of less specific gravity than the iron and lead from passing into the tank 10. This means that the lead and iron only will enter the last named tank. Again by watching the glass pipe 25, if any material of lower specific gravity than desired is observed passing from the tank 13 to the tank 12, the valve of the faucet 32 Will be further closed, and the closing operation will be continued until there is a sufficient volume of water passing from the tank 12 upwardly into the tank 13, to carry upwardly into the last named tank such materials as silica or practically pure gangue which it is desired to separate from the h8fl"l81 material.

It is not necessary that the faucet 31 should have a valve since the hooded trough or receptacle of the tank 13 is to have a free outlet, to carry off all of the overflow or excess of water which it may be necessary to introduce to the system through the pipe 39 in order to provide the necessary volume for the required hydraulic separation. From this it will be understood that only the silica or other gangue of the same specific gravity, will be caused to overflow from the tank 13. It may be considered that the grade of material which will be caused to overflow from the tank 12, is middlings or a grade containing some gangue which is heavier than the silica, and any other material which is of less specific gravity than the iron. In any event what ever the material under treatment and having grades varying in specific gravity, it may be separated into its various grades by the use of my improved apparatus, and this may be done by regulating the vali e 40 whereby the necessary volume of water is caused to pass upwardly through the pipe 22 to prevent any material except the heaviest grade to pass to the tank 5; by regulating the valve of the faucet 33, to prevent any material of less specific gravity than is desired, to pass from the tank 12 to the tank 10; and by regulating the valve of the faucet 32, to prevent any material of less specific gravity than desired, from passing from the tank 13 to the tank 12, the overflow from the tank 13 being general in its character and sufficient to carry off the surplus water which does not escape from the system with the various grades of material which are removed from the tanks below.

As illustrated in the drawing (see Fig. 4), the tank 5 is interiorly equipped with radially disposed partitions 12, to provide against rotary movement of the water within this tank, or to overcome any tendency to such movement since it is not desirable that any centrifugal action should be present, as the separation of the material into its various grades must be effected hydraulically alone in order that such separation may be according to the varying specific gravities of the materials to be separated.

In the formof construction shown in Fig. 5 the volume of the greater portion of the cone shaped tank, is eifaced by employing an interior tubular member 43, whose upper extremity is slightly larger than its lower extremity, there being a slight taper downwardly, though it may be straight without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention. The upper extremity of this member 43 merges at 44 into a partition member 45 which is inclined from its upper extremity 46 downwardly as it extends inwardly to the point 44. This form of construction will probably be suitable for the treatment of the heavier grades of material, while the form shown in Fig. 3 will undoubtedly be preferable with the lighter grades or where the material contains a con siderable quantity of relatively light particles or those of comparatively low specific gravity.

I the illustration of the particles of materials as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, those of lowest specific gravity, in the upper portions of the transparent pipes in Figs. 3 and 5, are indicated by small black dots 48. These particles may be considered the silica. The particles 49 which are circular leaving an open center or white space, may be termed the iron, while the relatively large particles 50 formed in solid black may be considered the lead or heaviest grade of mineral in the material under treatment.

The tanks shown in Figs. 3 and 5 may be considered the lowermost cone shaped tank 10 of the structure hence the relatively large solid black particles which appear to be passing through the lower reduced portion of the glass pipe 22, may be considered the lead or heaviest grade of metallic values.

As illustrated in the drawing (see Figs. 3 and 5), the glass tubes are connected with the tanks by means of rubber collars 47. It is evident that any other means may be employed for forming water tight joints between the glass members 22, 23 and 25 and the tanks.

While my improved apparatus has been herein designated a concentrator, it must be understood that it is equally well adapted for use as a sizer or classifier, and whether it is used for the one purpose or the other, depends altogether on the character of the material under treatment as regards the size of -the grains or particles. Hence wherever the term concentrator is employed it must be understood to be general in its meaning and of sufficient scope to include a sizing or classifying apparatus Having thus described my invention wha. I claim is,-

1. An hydraulic plant concentrator or classifier comprising a number of tanks disposed one above another and in communication with each other, each tank except the lowermost being open at the top for overflow purposes, hoods fitted over the top of the same and forming troughs for catching the overflow therefrom, the top of each hood being provided with an opening, means for connecting the lower extremity of the tank next above with said opening, an outlet connected with each hood, and a valve located in each outlet except the uppermost for regulating the discharge and for controlling the flow of Water to the tank directly above.

2. An hydraulic concentrator and classifier comprising a number of tanks disposed one above another and in communication with each other, each tank except the lowermost being open at the top for overflow purposes, and hoods fitted over the same forming troughs for catching the overflow therefrom, th top of each hood being provided with a central opening, means for connecting the lower extremity of the tank next above with said opening, an outlet connected with each hood, a valve located in each outlet except the uppermost, valve-controlled means for introducing water under pressure to the lowermost tank, and means for feeding the material to be treated to the uppermost tank.

3. An hydraulic concentrator or classifier comprising a number of tanks disposed one above another and in communication with each other, each tank except the lowermost being open at the top for overflow purposes, and hoods fitted over the top of the same forming troughs for catching the overflow therefrom, the top of each hood being provided with a relatively small opening, and conduits for connecting the lower extremity of the tank next above the said opening, an outlet connected with each hood, and a valve located in each outlet except the uppermost, for the purpose set forth.

4. An hydraulic concentrator or classifier comprising a number of frusto-conical tanks disposed one ahove another and in communication with each other, each tank except the lowermost being open at the top for overflow purposes, and hoods fitted over the top of the same and forming troughs for catching the overflow therefrom, the top of each hood being provided with a central opening, means for connecting the lower extremity of the tank next above with said opening, an outlet connected with each hood, and means located in each outlet except the uppermost for controlling the flow of water to the tank directly above.

5. An hydraulic concentrator or classifier comprising a number of tanks disposed one above another, including a number of fruslo-conical tanks disposed one above a11- othcr with their larger extremities uppermost, hoods fitted over the top of the respective tanks and forming troughs for catching tla, overflow therefrom, the top of each hood being provided with a relatively small open ing, conduits for connecting the lower extremity of the tank next above with said opening, said conduits diminishing in siZe from the bottom toward the top, an outlet connected with each hood, a valve located in each outlet except the uppermost for regulating the discharge and controlling the flow of water to the'tank directly above.

6. An hydraulic concentrator or classifier comprising a number of tanks disposed one aboy'e another and in communication with each other, each tank except the lowermost being open at the top for overflow purposes, and hoods fitted over and entirely closing the tops of the same except for a relatively small opening in the respective hoods, means for forming communication hetween said opening and the lower extremity of the tank directly above, an outlet connected With each hood, and means located in each outlet except the uppermost for regulating the discharge and controlling the flow of Water to the tank directly above.

7. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a number of tanks disposed one above another and in connnunication With each other, each tank except the lowermost being open at the top for overflow purposes, hoods fitted over the tops of the same below the uppermost, the top of each hood being provided with an opening, means for connecting the lower extremity of the tank next above with said opening, an outlet connected with each hood, and a 'alve located in the outlet of each hood for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A. J. OBRIEN, A. Ennn'r OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

